Culture shock rating

Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.

Low

Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.

Medium

Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.

High

You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.

Low

Physicality

Physical rating

Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.

Low

Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.

Medium

Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.

High

Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.

Low

TOUR SNAPSHOT

Tour snapshot

Uncover a hidden community of Athens, one that is made up of artists, artisans and craftspeople. Athens is often described as one of the most “alternative” cities in Europe, so you won’t be short of interesting encounters and sights on this tour! Explore open markets dedicated to antiques and shop for souvenirs that are so much more interesting than fridge magnets – and that, of course, come with a story of their own.

Highlights

Discover hidden shops of Athens that only locals know about

Explore the city’s backstreets, populated by workshops and galleries where artisans handcraft unique pieces of art

Meet a famous Greek sandal-maker who is also a poet

Learn about iconic Greek items (and popular souvenirs), such as evil eyes and worry beads

Dig into authentic Greek flavours with a meze platter and glass of wine at a traditional venue

Your Athens shopping tour will start out with a lesson in one of the most authentic traditions of local folklore: the mati, also known as the evil eye. You will learn about its origins and hear the legends that surround this magical object, which is part of virtually every household in Greece. We’ll also grab a cup of Greek coffee in a very special art gallery, so that you’ll have a jolt of caffeine to kick off the rest of your Athens tour!

Next up, you’ll learn about worry beads, locally known as komboloi, and a long-standing tradition. We’ll pop into the Komboloi Museum, where you can discover why these fidgety beads are found everywhere in Greece.

Next, we’ll head to a shoe workshop that has had customers such as The Beatles, Barbara Streisand, Lily Tomlin and Sarah Jessica Parker, just to name a few! Find out from the artisan which sandals these celebs eventually bought.

Athens holds its own when it comes to contemporary art, so we’ll lead you into one of the most innovative shops, which sells souvenirs crafted by the new generation of Greek artists. You’ll find delightfully fresh and different mementos to take back home, for a very original present for your friends (or yourself!).

From art we’ll move onto another staple of the local culture: ouzo! You’ll visit a store selling endless ouzo varieties, as well as other local products such as olives, olive oil and honey, all of them from Greek producers.

Finally, you’ll learn a bit about a favourite local game. Old cafés in Athens often host men playing tavli, the local version of backgammon. We will tell you everything about this popular game, and you’ll be able to shop for a game to take home with you, if you like.

Finally, we’ll end our Athens shopping tour at a shop that sells more local tastes (such as more olive oil, of course!), before actually tasting some goods ourselves! We’ll visit a traditional venue and enjoy a platter of meze (seasonal Greek appetisers), paired with a glass of Greek wine.

Your Trip: For your Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 12 people.

Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.

Child Policy: This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children under the age of 6 are permitted to join this tour free of charge. Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child under the age of 6. You can do so in the special request box on the checkout page.